Stacker accumulator



Dec. 18, 1945. H. s. LABOMBARDE STACKER ACCUMULA'IOR 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20

INVENTOR amid Slabomurde ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Harold Siqbomburde Q a 4 h w. J

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Dec. 18, 1945.

ATTORNYS Dec. 18, 1945. H. s. LABOMBARDE STACKER ACCUMULA'IOR Filed Aug. 20, 1942 6. Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Harold S. Lubomburde BY Y ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1945. H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,391,170

STACKER ACCUMULATOR Filed Aug. 20, 1942 .s Sheets-Sheet 4 Eu 0. WV

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LO INVENTOR I HcnoldS. Lobomburde ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1945'. H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,391,170

STACKER AGCUMULATOR Filed Aug. 20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F1810 F1 .12 as \46 1-7 INVENTOR g- Hcrcfld S. Lclbomburde MIW A TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1945 ES PATENT.

OFFICE s'racxnn aooUMUnA'roa Harold s. Labombarde, Nashua, N. 11., assignor to The International Paper Box Machin pany, Nashua, N. 11.,

Hampshire e Coma corporation of New Application August 20 1942, Serial No. 455,434

27 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stacker accumulators of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,580,612 grantedApril 13, 1926, the principal purpose of which is to accumulate in overlapping relation folded sheets of paper or carton blanks having glue applied to certain areas thereof and to maintain the overlapped articles under suitable pressure a sufficient time to permit the glue to set.

Stacker accumulatorsof this type have here- 'tofore had serious disadvantages when operating upon various types of material or upon a variety I of different types of cartons.

Where different varieties of carton material are employed the disadvantage relates mainly to the matter of pressure control since some types, such, for example, as clay coated boxboard stocks, cannot stand much pressure or the surface thereof will mark. Consequently the pressure applied The principal object of the present invention is to provide a stacker accumulator which will overcome the defects inherent in usual forms of stackers and which will apply and maintain proper pressure on all such areas of the accumulated articles as may require greater or less pressure effectively to insure permanent adhesion of the complementary glued parts thereof irrespective of the thickness produced by overlapped portions of the articles and irrespective of the character of the material of which the articles are composed.

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide a stacker accumulator with a wide endless conveyer belt and complementary endless compressor means, preferably in the form of a compressor belt, to engage therebetween the articles to'be conveyed, with pressure means extending across the lower runof the endless compressor belt and acting upon a substantial longitudinal portion thereof, together with complementary means underlying the conveyer.

The invention also comprises means for applylng forces to the pressure means in proximity to boxes because of lack of proper pressure control.

An example is the clay coated boxboard stocks.

On this type of boxboard, the stacker pressure should not be sufficient to mark the stock. Other types of board require heavy pressure and the design of the box combined with the stock may be such that extremely heavy pressures are required to effect a properly glued joint.

Second, some types of special boxes may be glued in various locations so that pressure is required evenly over the complete surface of the stacked boxes. Y Former stacker accumulators have been comprised of one or more narrow pressure belts. It has been impossible with narrow belts to produce a uniformly distributed pressure over the complete box.

Third, the folds of some special boxes may be such that pressure is kept off from some of the I glued joints.

' the edges of the conveyer belttogether with means for equalizing the forces thus applied throughout the pressure area. In usual types of stacker accumulators different amounts of pressure are imposed upon the lower run of a compression belt by applying a suitable portable weight or weights to the pressure mechanism which engages the upper surface thereof. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means which can be readily and conveniently adjusted to impose any desired force upon the lapped articles carried by the conveyer ranging from a maximum amount of several hundred pounds to zero, or which may be so adjusted as entirely to relieve the pressure upon the articles carried by the conveyor in case the machine is used merely to accumulate the articles in lapped relation.

a proper rate.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a stacker accumulator with means for applying localized pressure to portions of the article carried by the conveyer in combination with variable and the compressor means which will bring localized pressure into the desired effectiveness by so graduating the thickness of the overlapped articles as to provide the required pressure areas and which will not injure the surface, with means for so adjusting the pressure applied to lapped articles having portions to be glued togather as to complete the setting of the glue without injury to the surface of the article.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing resilient means for holding down resilient or expansible portions of articles delivered to the conveyer belt until they are effectively engaged by the compressor means, thereby to prevent displacement of the article and insure proper lapped accumulation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stacker accumulator, having a wide conveyer belt and endless compressor means so cooperating therewith that articles may be carried on different transverse portions of the belt, with a relatively narrow endless pick-off belt located at the delivery end of the conveyer which is adjustable transversely of the conveyer so that it can be shifted to either side or to the center portion of the conveyer for convenience of one or more delivery attendants.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the pick-oil. belt vertically to such proper height as will enable the attendant or attendants to work with minimum effort and maximum efficiency.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sufficient portion of the stacker accumulator to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1A is a detailed prospective view showin a conventional variable speed mechanism for correlating the speed of the stacker to that of the mechanism for delivering successive articles thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. l, a portion of the compressor belt being broken away to show more clearly the pressure rollers;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in longtudinally vertical section showing the position of the conveyor belt, compressor belt, the pressure rollers, and the means for adjustably applying force to said rolls when the stacker is partially loaded with lapped articles;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same when the stacker is filled with the lapped articles;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view on line 5-5 Fig. 4, showing the rollers for the conveyor belt and compressor belt in elevation, and illustrating the means for applying localized pressure upon certain .parts of the articles compressed between said belts, and also illustrating a plurality of compressor belts;

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the invention as comprising a wide conveyor belt, a cooperating wide compressor belt, and also showing means for applying localized pressure to the articles therebetween.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a box blank in unfolded position illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which certain flaps are folded and the areas 8,891,170 speed mechanism for driving the conveyer belt of the respective flaps which are adhesively t be secured together;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the be: pro-- duced from the blank illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on lines 0-4 Fi 7 with the flaps folded in position for compression to set the glued areas;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of another form of box blank in partially folded positions:

Fig. 11 is a similar view'of the blank box blank shown in Fig. 10 when folded for introduction into the stacker;

Fig. 12 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the hold-down mechanism for preventing displacement of the blanks upon the conveyor before they are acted upon by the compressor means; p

Fig. 13 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the stacker and adjustable receiving table from which the articles may be picked off by one or more operators;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on line ll-|4 Fig. 13 viewed from the right toward the left and showing the lateral adjustability of the pick-off table, and also the mechanism for vertically adjustingit.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a stacker accumulator having a main frame upon which a wide endless conveyer belt is mounted. a supple- 'rnental frame mounted upon the main frame and adjustable longitudinally thereof, and provided with a compressor means preferably in the form of a wide belt complementary to the conveyor, but which may be provided with one or more endless compressor means cooperating with the conveyor belt to engage lapped articles therebetween, and pressure means, preferably in the form of the plurality of pressure rollers with means for apply- 40 ing any desired force, or no force at all, to the pressure rollers, and having means for equalizin pressure applied by each pressure roller to the compressor belt or belts.

The invention also includes a pick-off table, preferably in the form of an endless belt, to which the lapped articles are delivered from the conveyor, and means for adjusting the pick-off table. which is relatively narrower than the conveyor, laterally or vertically for the convenience of the operator or operators who remove the articles from the pick-oil! table.

The stacker accumulator illustrated comprises parallel side frames I, preferably in the form of channel bars with cylindrical rollers 2 and 3, the

shafts of which arejournaled in suitable bearings in opposite end portions of the side frame. An endless conveyor belt 4, which is mounted upon the rollers 2 and 3, is sufllciently slack to permit the accumulation of box blanks Or other flat articles thereupon when delivered to the conveyor belt by suitable means for feeding the. articles successively, as for example, by an endless conveyor belt 5, and a cooperating upper belt 5.1:, of a folding and glueing machine as is usual. A supplemental frame which is mounted upon the side frames I, comprises side bars 6, having integral upwardly and longitudinally extending end portions 1 and 8, which respectively provide means for supporting the shaft of a roller 9, and a pivotal support for a roller Ill, upon which endless compressor means such as a wide compressor belt II, or a plurality of narrow compressor belts is or are mounted in such manner that the lower run of the compressor belt cooperates with the upper run of the conveyor belt to engage therebetweenthe articles to be conveyed.

The shaft of the roller Ill is mounted in crossheads I2 which are slidably mounted upon rods l3 which are provided at one end with fittings l4 which are pivotally mounted upon a shaft l5 which is fixedly secured in the ends of the extensions 8 of the side plates of the supplemental frame. Spiral springs i6 which are interposed between the crosshead l2 and adjustable nuts I] on the rods i 3 provide means for adjusting the tension on the compressor belt I I.

The side bars 6 of the supplemental frame are mounted upon shafts of flanged rollers i8 which travel upon the upper flanges of the main side.

frames i,

The upper flanges of the main frame are provided with a series of equally spaced holes I9 which are engaged by the teeth of the sprocket wheels 20 which are fixedly secured upon a shaft 2 i, mounted in the supplemental frame. A crank 22, which is secured to the shaft 2|, provides means for rotating wheel 20, to adjust the supplemental frame longitudinally of the main frame. The central portions of the side bars of the supplemental frame are provided with relatively thick portions 23 in which are journaled the shafts 24 of a series of rollers 25 which underlie and support the upper lead of the conveyor belt 4.

The suitable guide rollers 26 for the edges of the compressor belt II are adjustably mounted upon the extensions 1 of the side bars of the supplemental frame.

Variable speed mechanisms are provided for driving the conveyor belt in properly timed relation to the mechanism which delivers the folded and glued cartons to the conveyor belt of the accumulator stacker. Such a mechanism is graphically illustrated in Fig. 1A, and also Fig. 2 in which a shaft 21 of the folding and glueing machine drives a belt 26 which in turn drives the pulley 29 of a suitable variable speed mechanism of the Reeves" type having oppositely disposed conical pulley-s 30 which are adjustable toward and from each other and which drive a V belt 3! which in turn drives similar oppositely disposed conical pulleys 32, suitable means (not shown) being provided for so relatively adjusting the respective conical pulleys as to produce the desired speed as is well known in the art. The shaft 33 of the pulleys 32 is provided with a worm 34 which drives a worm gear 35 on the shaft 36 of the cylinder 2 which in turn drives the conveyor belt 4.

Suitable means are provided for driving the compressor belt at the same speed as that of the conveyor belt as illustrated here in the shaft 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with a sprocket wheel 31 which drives a sprocket chain 38 which passes over an idle sprocket wheel at the opposite end of the main frame. The upper run of the sprocket chain 38 engages a sprocket wheel 39 upon a stud shaft which is mounted on a bracket 40 extending downwardly from the supplemental frame and a similar sprocket wheel 31 (Fig. 2) on the opposite side of the side bar of the supplemental frame engages a sprocket chain 42 which in turn drives a sprocket 43 which is fixedly secured to the shaft of the cylinder 9 which drives the compressor belt or belts. Suitable idle sprockets 44 which are mounted upon the bracket serve to produce a loop in the sprocket chain 38 which maintains the chain in engagement with the sprocket 39 irrespective of the position of the supplemental frame longitudinally of the main frame.

One of the important features of the present invention consists in providing means for apply ing pressure to the lower run of the compressor belt throughout a desired area, and for providing means for adjusting the pressure thus applied in such manner that any desired pressure may be applied, or the compressor belt relieved from any pressure whatsoever. In the preferred construction illustrated, a series of pressure rollers 45 are located directly above the respective rollers 25 which underlie the upper run of the conveyor belt 4, and means are provided for applying equal pressure to each of the rollers 45. In the preferred construction illustrated, the rollers 45 are arranged in pairs, each pair having their shafts journaled in end frames 46. Evener bars 41 are connected by pivots 48 to the centers of the end frames, and the centers of the eveners are similarly connected by pivots 49 to the ends of downwardly extending arms of supporting members 56 which are pivotally mounted centrally on a shaft 5i which extends across the machine. The shaft 5| is provided with pinions 52 which engage vertical racks 53 which are fixedly mounted upon the side bars of the supplemental frame. The shaft 5| is mounted on its end in housings 54 which surround the racks 53 so that the upward and downward movements of the roll-supporting members 50 are equalized.

Links 55 which are pivotally mounted uponthe housings 54 extend upwardly and are pivotally connected to levers 56 which extend longitudinally of the supplemental frame and are fulcrumed upon pivots 51 at the upper ends of standards 58 which are mounted upon the side bars of the supplemental frame.

The levers 56 preferably .are in the form of T-bars or angle bars having a flat upper surface, upon which suitable weight-carriers 59 are adjustably mounted, and provided with means for positioning the weight quickly in adjusted positions. In the preferred construction, the weight carrier is in the form'of a receptacle adapted to receive sand or any other suitable heavy material. The means for adjusting the weight carrier as illustrated herein comprises chains 60 which are fixedly secured to the fiat upper surfaces of the levers 56 and in effect produce a cheaply constructed rack. The weight carrier is mounted upon the shaft iii of sprocket wheels 62 having teeth to engage the links of thechain. The shaft BI is provided at each end with handles 63 by means of which the sprocket wheels can be retated to adjust the position of the weight carrier relatively to the fulcrum 51 of the lever, and it will be noted that the weight carrier can thereby be adjusted outwardly (to the right Fig. 1) to impose any desired weight upon the roller-supporting member 50 or may be adjusted to the opposite side of the fulcrum thereby to relieve the roller-supporting members 50 of any weight whatsoever.

By the reason of the construction thus described, the weight imposed upon-the levers 56 is equalized so that equal pressures are applied through the links 55 to the roller-supporting members 50. Inasmuch as the arms of the rollersupporting members are of equal length, and are connected to the centers of the eveners 41, equal pressure is applied to each pair of rollers and since the ends of the eveners are similarly pivotally connected to the end frames of each pair of rollers, equal force is applied to each roller of each pair. By reason of this construction, uniform pressure is applied to the pressure areas of the lapped with the cylinder 9 to accumulate the lapped blanks in overlapped relation on the conveyer belt. As illustratedherein, brackets 85 extend downwardly from the side bars of the supplemental frame, and provide journals for a shaft 88 which forms the fulcrum for bell crank levers having an elbow-shaped arm 61 and downwardly extending arms 88. A roller 89 which is joumaled in the end of the elbow-shaped arm 81 engages the conveyor belt immediately below the belt cylinder 9. The other arms 88 of the bell crank levers are pivotally connected to rods 18 which are slidably mounted in blocks H which in turn are" pivotally mounted in extensions 12 projecting downwardly from the brackets 40. Spiral springs 13 which are interposed between the blocks II and suitable nuts 14 on the screw-threaded portions of the. rods 10 provide means for adjusting the force applied by the rollers 69 to the under sideof the conveyor belt.

Desirably, another supporting roller 18 for the upper. run of the conveyor belt is interposed between the roller 89 and the first of the rollers 28 and is adjustably secured to the side bars of the supplemental frame.

By reason of the construction thus described, equalized pressure is applied by the pressure rollers 48 throughout the entire width of the compressor belt. or belts. In many instances where folded blanks having portions of uneven thickness are accumulated between the conveyor and compressor belts of the stacker, the lapped blanks require localized pressure upon thinner areas which are to be glued together, and the present invention comprises means by which such localized pressure can be applied uniformly to the thinner portions of the folded blanks. As shown in Figs. 4. 5, and 6, this is accomplished by inserting longitudinal strips or shims of suitable thickness and suitable width between the conveyor supporting rollers 28 and the underside of the upper run.'of the conveyor 4.

As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, one or more strips 16 of smooth material such as a composition known in the trade as Micarta," which presents a smooth, substantially frictionless surface, is detachably secured at its front end to a cross girder 11 on the supplemental frame, and extends longitudinally of the supplemental frame and is supported by the rollers 28 beneath the conveyor belt 4, thereby raising the portion 01" the belt which rests upon such strip or strips as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

While in the preferred construction the compressor belt is of the same width as the conveyor belt, a plurality of compressor belts may be embodied as is particularly shown in Fig. 5.

The folded blanks may be deposited upon the conveyor of a stacker accumulator either in a lengthwise or a crosswise position. The blanks usually have thick. folded portions and relatively thin extensions or flaps having folded-lines which make them flimsy.

Where the accumulator stackers have narrow compression belts, it is possible to allow such flimsy flaps to extend beyond the edges of the compressor belt so that the thicker folded and glued joints will immediately be held under compression when engaged in the bite of the conveyor and compression belts. However, where a wide compressor belt is employed this cannot be done, and it is necessary therefore for yieldably holding down the folded and glued flaps until they reach the bite of the conveyor and compression belts so that they will not pop open and interfere with incoming blanks.

Furthermore, certain folded blanks have flimsy extensions such as are formed by transverse fold lines to form the cover of a box, and which when the blanks are fed lengthwise upon the conveyor in lapped relation will buckle up upon contact with the compressor belt instead of entering the bite between it and the conveyor.

Inorder to cover these diillculties, one or more yieldable hold-down devices are provided which will not only retain ethe flimsy portions upon the conveyor belt, but -will also press back on the thicker folded portions of the blank and thereby apply a drag to it which will insure proper registry with the underlying blank and insure proper engagement of the flimsy portions in the bite of the conveyor and compressor rolls as well as preventing popping open of the folded portions of the blank. In the preferred construction as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 12, a rod" is fixedly mounted in extensions 1 of the supplemental side frames, and adjustably secured to that rod are split brackets 19 in which rods 88 are slidably and adjustably mounted. The opposite ends of rods 90 are provided with brackets 8| having clamps 82 which adjustably hold curve-resilient pressure springs 89 which serve to hold down the folded and glued flaps, and prevent them from popping open in advance of the time they reach the bite of the compressor belt and conveyor. These pressure springs also apply a sufllcient drag to the blank to enable the flimsy flap to be properly engaged between the compressor belt, and the conveyor without buckling.

By reason of the fact that the stacker embodying the present invention has a wide conveyor belt, a series of blanks may be delivered to it at any position widthwise, and the blanks will be discharged from the conveyor either centrally thereof, or adjacent either side of the conveyor. One'of the objects of the invention is to provide an adjustable pick-off table to receive the blanks discharged from th conveyor which can be positioned laterally of the conveyor to the greatest convenience of the operator who removes the completed blanks. Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting height of the pick-off table.

Suitable mechanism for accomplishing these purposes is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14.

The pick-off table illustrated comprises an endless belt 84 which is considerably narrower than the width of the conveyor. The upper run of the belt 84 rests upon a platform 85 having at its edges downwardly extending brackets 88 which are mounted upon parallel bars or rods 81 having screw-threaded ends which are adjustably mounted in bosses 88 'ofa laterally adjustable carriage 89 which is associated with the delivery end of the stacker accumulator.

The carriage 89 is provided with extensions on in which a shaft of one of the rollers for the endless belt 84 is journaled. The other roller for rods 91, suitable tension may be maintained.

upon thebelt 94. The carriage 99 has relatively wide vertical end portions 92, each of which is provided with upper and lower pairs of antifriction rollers 99 which engage the upper and lower edges of a cross plate or girder 94 and are retained thereon by back plates 99 which are secured to the wide end portions 92 and 92 of the carriage, and engage the opposite face of the cross plate. The cross plate or girder 94 is mounted centrally of its length upon the upper end of the lifting bar 99 of a jack 91 having suitable braces 99 and 99 and a large base I00. The upper end or head of the lifting bar is secured by a pin IN to a strap or keeper I02 which is secured by bolts I09 to the cross girder 94-. The

lower portion of the lifting bar is screw-threaded,-

and is engaged by a nut I04 in the form of a bevel geari09 which rests upon the upper end of a standard or boss I09 which extends upwardly from the base I00. A companion bevel g'ear I01 which meshes with the gear I09 is suitably journaled in a bracket I09 and is adapted to b rotated by a suitable crank I09. By rotating the crank in the proper direction the cross girder 94 and the carriage together. with the belt 94 may be adjusted to any desired height convenient for the operator.

Suitable means are provided for adjusting a pick-off table laterally with respect to the conveyor belt. As illustrated herein, one wide end 92 of the carriage is provided with a screwthreaded boss IIO which is engaged by a screwthreaded rod III, one end of which is mounted in a suitable bearing I I2 which is fixedly secured to the end portion of the cross girder 94. A handle II9, which is secured to the rod III, provides means for rotating the rod in either direction to prevent articles from being delivered over the end of the pick-off belt 94.

when a third operator is to be employed, the platform extension is swung to horizontal position so that the third operator can stand at the end of the pick-off table.

In order. more fully to describe the operation of the stacker accumulator, conventional types of box blanks are illustrated in Figs. 7, 9, l0, and

11, together with one of the blanksin assembled position to produce the box illustrated in Fig. 8.

One form of a box blank for producing a box such as illustrated in Fig. 8, is illustrated in Fig. 7, the outline of the blank being shown in full lines, the fold lines in relatively light lines, and the folded position of certain parts in dotted lines. The bottom of the box I-I9 is of rectangular form, and is provided with foldable wings II9 which in the completed box stand vertically to form reinforcing ends I I9, but which are'adapted to be folded into the dotted line positions previous to glueing to other portions of the box. A folded line I20 which extends centrally longitudinally of the bottom provides means for collazpsing the blank to a flap position to enable complementary portions of the box to be glued together. The back of the box I2I is provided with end flaps I22 and with an extension I29, adapted to be folded upon the line I24 to form a cover.

folded upon the central line I20 of the bottom adjust the carriage and the pick-off table carried If the blanks are delivered from the centralportion of the conveyor belt at such speed that two operators are employed, the pick-off table can be adjusted centrally of the width of the conveyor belt so that neither of the operators is required to lean over to any considerable extent.

If th blanks are, delivered so rapidly as to require three operators to remove them, the third operator may be stationed at the end of the pick-off table. Insuch case, means are employed to provide an extension of the table, and which may otherwisebe employed as a stop at the end of the pick-off belt 84. The extension of the pick-off table may be in the form of a platform I I4 which is fixedly secured to brackets III having split-end portions I I9 which are'clamped upon hubs II1 of the fitting on the outermost ends of the rods 91. Normally, when one or two operators are required, the platform extension I I4 is clamped in vertical position to form a stop to 'so-that the parts are in the dotted-line position illustrated in Fig. 6. I

When in this folded position, the end flaps I22 which are coated with glue are in position to be secured to the end portions of the. extensions I29 which likewise are glue-coated when folded upon the line I90.

The parts when in this position are illustrated in vertical section in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 10 and 11, another conventional form of box is shown in partly-folded position, the bottom being hidden by the folded-over back side and top of the box. The bottom comprises a rectangular area which may be described as bound by the side lines I9I. I92, and end lines corresponding to lines I99 and I94. The back side'of the box I is folded upon the line I92 and the cover I96 comprises an extension from the fold line I91. The cover is provided with a foldable front end flap I99 and end flaps I99 and I40. The front side I4I corresponds in width to the back side I99 and is folded upon the line I9I. The front and back sides are provided with extensions I42 and I49 which in turn are provided with diagonal fold lines, and are glued to extensions of the bottom I44 by spots of glue, the folded lines, being such as to permit the extensions of the sides to be folded in such manner as to enable the extensions I44 to form the ends of the box. End reinforcing portions I49 extend from fold lines I49, adapted to be folded against the insides of the endsof the box to reinforce the same, and if desired may be provided with narrow flanges I41, to lie upon and engage the bottom of the box.

When the blank illustrated in Fig. 10 is presented to the stacker accumulator, the end reinforcing portions I" are folded inwardly as illusclaimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine of the class described comprising an' endless conveyer belt, means for actuating the same to provide a slack upp r run, a

' complementary endless compressor belt'having a by the compressor rollers, and in such cases it is desirable that the machine be provided with the longitudinally extending strips or shims oi! Mlcarta, or like material in order that the proper pressure may be applied to each portion of the blanks.

It will be noted that where blanks of the character above-described are successively deposited upon the conveyor belt, the forwardly extending cover portions with their flaps are much thinner than the folded portions of the blank, and

they are, therefore, likely to curl up or be displaced by contact with the compressor belt before engaged in the bite between the compressor and conveyor belts.

In order, therefore, to avoid curling of the relatively flexible top, the hold-down springs illusin the bite of the compressor, and conveyor belts. Such popping open is, of course, prevented by the hold-down springs above described.

In the operation of the machine? therefore, the blanks which are successively delivered to the conveyor belt accumulate thereupon in proper registry, and are carried in lapped position betweenthe conveyor and the compressor belt. By proper adjustment of the weight-carrying receptacle 59 along the lever 56, any desired pressure maybe imposed upon the lower run of the compressor belt which will properly maintain desirable pressure upon the glued areas throughout the time the :blanks are passing through the accumulator, and it will be noted that by reason of the equalizing mechanism, the same pressure will be applied by each of the pressure rollers as the lapped articles are carried between the conveyor and the compressor belts.

By varying the speed of the conveyor and compressor belts relatively to the speed at which the blanks are successively delivered to the conveyor in combination with the adjustability of the supplemental frame longitudinally of the conveyor, blanks of any desired length may be properly accumulated upon the conveyor, and proper pressure applied to them irrespective of the thickness of the accumulated articles upon the conveyor. By reason of the vertical and lateral adjustments of the pick-oil table, the articles can be removed from the pick-01f table with the greatest convenience, to the operator or operators who are thus enabled to work with maximum efllciency.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive of the meaning or scope of the following claims.

Having thus described theiinvention, what is lower run cooperating with the upper run 01' the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed having at its front end a driving roller positioned to cause said compressor belt to engage flat articles deposited upon the conveyer belt, yieldable means cooperating with said roller to accumulate flat articles upon the conveyer, pressure means extending transversely across the lower run of the endless compressor means ata distance from said roller acting upon a substantially longitudinal portion or said run, means for applying equal forces to the ends of said pressure means, and means for eliminating or for adjusting equally the amount of the forces thus applied.

2. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer be1t,means for actuating the same to provide a slack upper run, a complementary endless compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed having at its front end a driving roller positioned to cause said compressor belt to engage flat articles deposited upon the conveyer belt. yieldable means cooperating with said roller to accumulate flat articles upon the conveyer, a plurality of parallel pressure rollers extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of the compressor means at a distance from the driving roller therefor, means for applying force to each end of each pressure roller, and means for simultaneously equalizing the forces applied to the respective ends of the pressure rollers, and means for adjusting the respective force-applying means operable to apply any desired force to or to eliminate application or any force to said pressure rollers. 3. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, a complementary wide endless compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run ofthe conveyer belt, means acting upon the lower run of the compressor belt to apply pressure to the articles carried between said belts throughout a substantial portion of the cooperating runs thereof, and means for localizing and increasing the pressure uniformly throughout a longitudinally extending strip of said cooperating means.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, a complementary wide endless compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer belt, means acting upon the lower run' oi the compressor belt to apply pressure to the articles carried between said belts throughouta substantial portion of the cooperating runs thereof, and means for raising a longitudinally extending strip of the upper run of th conveyer throughout the cooperating lengths or said runs to apply localized and increased pressure upon the portion 01 the articles carried along said strip by the cooperating runs of said conveyer and compressor carried between said belts throughout a substantial portion of the cooperating runs thereof, and means for suitably increasing the pressure inone or more localizedstrips extending lengthwise through the wide pressure applying section of the cooperating runs of said conveyer and compressor belts.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, a complementary wide endless compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed, a plurality of pairs of parallel pressure rollers extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of said compressor belt throughout its width, means for applying forces to the respective ends of each pair of rollers, means for simultaneously equalizing the forces thus applied to the ends of each pair of rollers, and means for equalizing the forces applied thereby to each roller of each pair.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer. belt, complementary -endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed. a plurality of pairs of pressure rollers extending transversely across andengaging the lower run of the compressor means. means for applying equal forces to the respective pairs of pressure rollers including a series of evener bar mechanisms for causing each roller of each pair to apply substantially the same pressure to the portion of the article on the conveyer passing beneath the roller irrespective of the thickness thereof and means for adjusting the force applied to said evener bar mechanism;

8. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed, a plurality of pairs of pressure rollers journaled in end frames and extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of the compressor means and evener bar mechanism for applying equal forces centrall-Yto the end frames of the respective pairs of rollers. thereby to cause each roller of each pair to apply substantially the same pressure to the portion of the article on the conveyer passing beneath the roller irrespective of the thickness of said portion and means for adjusting the forces applied through said evener bar mechanism and end 'frames to the respective rollers.

means, and means for applying force to the respective supporting members. 4

10. A machine of the class described comprising a frame construction having mounted thereon a wide endless conveyer belt and complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed. means for applying pressure to the lower run of said endless compressor means comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel pressure rollers extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of said compressor means, the ends of the rollers of each pair being journaled in similar end frames, evener means pivotally connected to the centers of the respective end frames of symmetrically positioned pairs of rollers, vertically adjustable supporting members on opposite sides of said frame construction pivotally mounted on said frame construction and flexibly connected to the centers of the respective evener means, means Y for applying force to the respective supporting members, and means for simultaneously adjusting the forces applied to the respective supporting members.

11. A machine of the clas described comprising a frame construction having mounted thereon a wide endless conveyer belt and complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed, means for applying pressure to the lower run of said compressor belt comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel pressure rollers extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of said compressor means, the ends of the rollers of each pair being journaled in similar end frames, evener means pivotally connected to the centers of the respective end frames of symmetrically positioned pairs of rollers, vertically adjustable supporting members on opposite sides of said frame construction pivotally mounted on said frame construction and flexibly connected to the centers of the respective evener means, means for applying force to the respective supporting members, means for adjusting the forces applied to the respective supporting members, and means for equalizing the forces applied to the respective supporting members.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a frame construction, a wide endless conveyer belt mounted thereon, and complementary endless compressor means having a lower run co- 9. A machine of the class described comprising a frame construction having mounted thereon a wide endless conveyer belt and-complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed, means for applying pressure to the lower run of said endless compressor means comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel pressure rollers extending transversely across and engaging the lower run of said endless compressor means, the ends of the rollers of each pair being journaled in similar end frames, evener means pivotally connected to the centers of the respective end frames of symmetrically positioned pairs of rollers, vertically adjustable supporting members on opposite sides of said frame construction pivotally mounted on said frame construction and flexibly connected to the centers of the respective evener engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed vertical guides on opposite sides of said frame, vertically movable means mounted in the respective guides, supporting members pivotally mounted in the respective vertically movable means having arms extending longitudinally of said frame, evener mechanism pivotally mounted centrally upon said arms at equal distances from the pivot thereof, pairs of parallel pressure rollers located above and extending transversely across the conveyer belt having end frames pivotally -mounted centrally upon the ends of respective evener means, and means for applying predetermined pressure to the respective vertically movable means. i

13. A machine of the class described comprising a frame construction, a wide endless conveyer belt'mounted thereon, and complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of said conveyer to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed ver.

tical guides on opposite sides of said frame, vertically movable means mounted in the respective guides, supporting members pivotally mounted in exert equal pressures throughout their lengths upon the articles carried by the conveyer belt.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a frame construction having mounted thereon a wide endless conveyer belt and complementary endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer .to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed, vertical guides on opposite sides of said frame intermediate of the length of the run of the endless compressor means, slides vertically movable in the respective guides, supporting means pivotally mounted on said slides having arms extending longitudinally of the frame, evener mechanisms pivotally mounted on said arms at equal distances from the pivots thereof, pairs of parallel pressure rollers located above and extending transversely across the lower run of said endless compressor means having end frames pivotally mounted centrally upon the ends of the respective evener mechanisms, standards mounted on the sides of the respective frames spaced from said guides, levers fulcrumed on said standards, means flexibly connecting the intermediate portions of said levers to said slides, counterweighting means adjustably mounted on said levers, and means for equalizing the pressures applied by the respective levers to said slides.

15. A machine of the class described for receiving and accumulating flat articles in lapped relation from a suitable feeding mechanism comprising a main frame, an endless conveyer belt, means for actuating the same to provide a slack upper run and means cooperating therewith to accumulate flat articles thereon in overlapped relation, a supplemental frame mounted on and movable longitudinally of said main frame having a series of transverse rollers underlying and sup: porting the upper run of said conveyer belt, complementary endless compressor means mounted in said supplemental frame having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer belt to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed, a plurality of pairs of pressure rollers carried by said supplemental frame complementary to and located above corresponding pairs of conveyer supporting rollers engaging the lower run of the endless compressor means, and adjustable means for applying predetermined equal forces to the respective ends of each of the pressure rollers.

16. -A machine of the class described for receiving and accumulating fiat articles in lapped relation from a suitable feeding mechanism comprising a main frame, an endless conveyer belt for said articles mounted thereon, a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame having a series of transverse rollers underlying and supporting the upper run of said conveyer belt, complementary endless compressor means mounted in said supplemental frame having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer belt to engage therebetween the articles being conveyed, a plurality of pairs of pressure rollers carried by said supplemental frame complementary to and located above corresponding pairs of conveyer supporting rollers engaging the lower lead of the endless compressor means, adjustable means for applying force simultaneously to all the pressure rollers, means for equalizing the force applied thereby to each of the respective pairs of pressure rollers, and means for equalizing the pressure applied by each of the rollers of each pair to the compressor belt.

1'7. A machine of the class described for receiving and accumulating flat articles in lapped relation from a suitable feeding mechanism comprising a main frame, an endless conveyer belt for said articles mounted thereon, a supplemental frame mounted on and movable longitudinally of said main frame having means underlying and supporting the upper run of said conveyer belt, complementary endless compressor means mounted on said supplemental frame having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer to engage therebetween articles being conveyed, a plurality of pairs of pressure rollers carried by said supplemental frame engaging the lower lead of the endless compressor means, adjustable means for applying equal force to each of the pressure rollers, means for adjusting the supplemental frame longitudinally of said main frame, and variable speed mechanism for actuat ing said conveyer belt and compressor belt from saidfeeding mechanism operable in conjunction with the longitudinal adjustment of the supplemental frame to cause proper accumulation and overlapping of like articles of any desired length.

18. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, a complementary wide endless compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer belt, means for successively delivering box blanks or the like to the conveyer at such predetermined speed relatively to that of the conveyer as to accumulate the box blanks thereon in lapped relation, means underlying and supporting the upper run of the conveyer throughout a substantial portion of its length, pressure means engaging the lower run of the endless compressor belt, and relatively narrow detachable means extending longitudinally of said conveyer beneath said pressure means adapted when interposed between said conveyer-supporting means and the conveyer to provideincreased localized pressure upon the articles carried by the conveyer.

19. A machine of the class described comprising a wide endless conveyer belt, a complementary wide compressor belt having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyer belt, means for successively delivering box blanks or the like to the conveyer at such predetermined speed relatively to that of the conveyer as to accumulate the box .blanks thereon in lapped relation, means underlying and supporting the upper run of the conveyer throughout a substantial portion of its length, pressure means engaging the lower run of the endless compressor belt, relatively narrow detachable means extending longitudinally of said conveyer beneath said pressure means adapted when interposed between said conveyer-supporting means and the conveyer to provide increased localized pressure upon the articles carried by the conveyer, and variable speed" mechanism for driving said conveyer .belt at such speed relatively to the speed of the blankdelivering mechanism as to varythe thickness of the lapped blanks on said conveyer to produce the desired pressure areas for said localized pressubstantial portion of its length, a plurality of pressure rollers complementary respectively to the respective conveyer-supporting rollers engaging the lower run of the compressor belt, and one or more removable shims of desired thickness extending longitudinally beneath said conveyer adapted to be interposed between said conveyersupporting rollers and said conveyer to provide increased localized pressure upon portions of the articles carried by the conveyer.

21. A machine of the class described for ac-' cumulating in lapped relation and compressing folded box blanks and the like successively supplied by a suitable feeding means comprising a main frame having a wide slack endless conveyer belt mounted on cylinders having its receiving end beneath and in proximity to said feeding means, a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame, a cylinder fixedly mounted on said supplemental frame at a distance from the receiving end of said conveyor, a complementary cylinder yieldably mounted on the other end of said supplemental frame, a compression belt mounted on said cylinders having its lower run coo fating with the conveyer to engage the blanks the'rebetween, a roller for supporting the sag oi the conveyer mounted on said supplemental frame and located beneath the fixedly mounted cylinder of the compressionbelt, and means for applying an adjustable yielding pressure to said sag-supporting roller.

22. A machine of the class described for accumulating in lapped relation and compressing folded box blanks and the like successively supplied by a suitable feeding means comprising a main frame having a wide slack endless conveyor belt mounted on cylinders having its receiving end beneath and in proximity to said feeding means, a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame, a cylinder fixedly mounted on said supplemental frame at a distance from the receiving end of said conveyer, a complementary cylinder yieldably mounted on the otherv end of said supplemental frame, a compression belt mounted on said cylinder having itsv lower run cooperating with the conveyer to engage the blanks therebetween, a lever fulcrumed on said supplemental frame having at one end a roller for supporting the sag of the conveyer engaging the under side of the conveyer beneath the fixedly mounted cylinder of the compression belt, resilient means acting upon the opposite end of said lever, and means for adjusting the force applied by said resilient means.

23. A machine of the class described having a longitudinally extending main frame, awide conveyer belt mounted thereon and complementary pressure means cooperating with said conveyer to engage and compress lap ed articles of narrower width than that of said conveyer therebetween, a pick-oil table of substantially narrower width than said conveyer belt adjustably mounted on said main frame at the delivery end of said conveyer provided with a traveling endless belt to receive the articles successively delivered by the conveyer, and means for adjusting the pick-off table transversely of said conveyer to locate the table in alinement with the path of travel of the articles carried by said conveyer in the most convenient position for the delivery attendant or attendants toremove the articles therefrom.

p ,24. A machine of the class described having a longitudinally extending main frame, a wide conveyer belt mounted thereon and complementary pressure means cooperating with said conveyer to engage and compress lapped articles of narrower width than that of said conveyer therebetween, a pick-oil table of substantially narrower width than said conveyer belt adjustably mounted on said main frame at the delivery end of said conveyer provided with a traveling endless belt to receive the articles successively delivered by the conveyer, and means for adjusting the table vertically to locate the table in alinementwiththe path of travel of the articles carried by said conveyer at a proper height to enable the attendant or attendants to work with a minimum effort. I

25. A machine of the class described having a longitudinally extending main frame, a wide conveyer belt mounted thereon and complementary pressure means cooperating with said conveyer to engageand compress lapped articles of narrower width than that of said conveyer therebetween, a pick-off table of substantially narrower width than said conveyer belt adjustably mounted on said main frame at the delivery end of said conveyer provided with a traveling endless belt to receive the articles successively delivered by the conveyer, means for adjusting the pick-off table transversely of the conveyer tolocate the table in alinement with the path of travel of the articles carried by said conveyer in the most convenient position for one or more attendants to remove the articles therefrom, and means for adjusting the table vertically to such proper height as will enable the attendant or attendants to work with a minimum effort and maximum efliciency, an extension pivotally mounted upon the 'rear end of said pick-off table, and means for selectively positioning said extension horizontally to effectively lengthen the pick-oil table or vertically to provide a stop for said articles.

26. A machine of the class described comprising a lower endless conveyor belt, a series of rollers transversely underlying and supporting a substantial portion of the upper run of said conveyor, complementary upper endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyor to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed, a plurality of pressure rollers engaging the lower run of the compressor means and located respectively above the conveyor-supporting rollers, pressure rollersup'porting means having symmetrical laterally extending arms provided with equalizing means for applying uniform pressure to each of the rollers,'levers fulcrumed on stands at opposite sides of the supplemental frame, means-flexibly connecting the levers to the centers of said rollsupporting means at a distance from the 1111 crums oi the lovers, weight-carrying means slidably mounted on respective levers adapted to be moved toward or from said rulcrums or across the same. and means for simultaneously adjusting said weight-supporting means equally along said levers.

27. A machine of the class described comprising a lower endless conveyor belt. a series of rollers transversely underlying and supporting a. substantialportion of the upper run of said conveyor, complementary upper endless compressor means having a lower run cooperating with the upper run of the conveyor to engage therebetween the articles to be conveyed, a plurality oi pressure rollers engamz the lower run of the compressor means and located respectively above the conveyor-supporting rollers, pressure rollersupporting means having symmetrical laterally a,sa1,17o

extending arms provided with equalizing means for applying uniform pressure to each or the rollers, levers fulcrumed on stands at opposite sides of the supplemental frame, means flexibly connecting the levers to the centers of said roilsupporting means at a distance from the fillcrums of the levers, weight-carrying means slidably mounted on respective levers adapted to he moved toward or from said iulcrums or across the same, and means for simultaneously-adjusting saidweight-supporting means equally along said levers comprising chains fixedly secured upon the upper surfaces or said levers to form racks, a shaft Journaled in said weisht-carrying means having sprockets engaging the respective chains and manually operable means for rotating said shaft to move said weight-carrying means lengthwise of said lever.

HAROLD S. LABOMBARDE. 

